Bellwether Coffee Wants To Be A One-Stop Shop For ...

There are so many barriers to entry for those looking to get into coffee roasting. The price of the roaster alone is enough to make most say, “nah.” Then there’s sourcing, never mind actually figuring out how to actually roast the coffee well (might I suggest this video series?). But now one company is looking to be a one-stop shop for all your roasting needs, and they just raised $10 million in funding.

Berkeley, California’s Bellwether Coffee wants to get more people and places roasting coffee. Grocery stores, cafes, restaurants, Bellwether is hoping to become the go-to for the next generation of nano-roasters, the ones with the desire to roast but who don’t yet necessarily possess the know-how. Offering roaster rental services (with an option to buy)—of their “zero-emissions commercial roaster” per the press release—along with a green coffee buying marketplace and even pre-defined roast curves available via their software platform, Bellwether’s goal is to provide the products and services necessary for new roasters come to out swinging. (Don’t worry, you can also customize your own roast curves.)

“We are evolving the coffee industry by making it more inviting and open to the ideas from farmers, roasters, baristas and consumers,” said Nathan Gilliland, CEO of Bellwether Coffee. “Our technology makes sourcing and roasting coffee more accessible, promoting transparency throughout the value chain. We enable our customers to roast with confidence and create with expertise.”

And investors are taking notice. It was announced earlier this week that Bellwether had secured $10 million in new funding led by Congruent Ventures. With more than $6 million in pre-orders already, including “a leading U.S. grocery chain,” the company is off to a good start and that $10 million investment is already looking pretty sound.

The idea of a one-stop shop for roasters, green coffee, and roasting curves is certainly novel. All but eliminating some of the largest barriers to entry into coffee roasting will without a doubt lead to more folks getting involved. For more information on Bellwether Coffee and their services, visit their official website.